Creating a Child's Garden
Many valuable lessons on life are learned in the garden. For one, it provides an object lesson on how being faithful in work can lead to glorious rewards, not only from the fruits of the harvest, but joy in the work itself. Most avid gardeners caught the love for growing things from a parent, grandparent or neighbor who allowed them the experience of getting their hands in the garden when they were young. In doing so, they gained enthusiasm for gardening while watching what their mentors and the dirt produced.
Herbs are a great introduction to gardening for young kids because they are such durable and tactile plants and as a bonus, they are stimulating to the senses. Herbs appeal to the sense of taste with their edible leaves and flowers, the sense of touch with the varied textures of their foliage, and the sense of smell with their wide variety of potent fragrances, from the citrus sweetness of Lemon Verbena, to the cool freshness of Mint. Most herbs are drought tolerant, thrive in poor soil, and don’t require fertilizers or chemicals to keep the pests away.
Allot your favorite little person a corner of your garden or a small space all their own. One yard by one yard is just right for a young child; you can always expand as they prove their faithfulness in caring for it. Choose a site that has well drained soil and receives at least six hour of sunlight.
It is important to incorporate stepping stones or pathways in their garden so they can enjoy it even if the ground is wet. With a garden path they can invite their little friends to come in without worry that their precious plants might get trampled. Create garden pathways with gravel, thick mulch, bark chips, paving stones, flat rocks, bricks, or even mowed grass.
Suggested Plants For Your Child’s Garden:
CATNIP-
Kids will love to be able to give their kittens a treat they so obviously enjoy.
PEPPERMINT-
It tastes and smells like the peppermint gum they are familiar with. It is a vigorous, brilliantly green, and has nice textured and touchable leaves.
PURPLE SAGE-
It has thick, soft and fuzzy leaves with purple undertones. It also produces edible purple flowers.
LEMON VERBENA-
It has the most lemony flavor of all the lemon herbs, and goes great with anything sweet.
PINEAPPLE SAGE-
This plant has the stongest pineapply flavor and scent and brilliant red flowers which are edible.
PENNYROYAL-
Children can walk on this plant and it will release a strong mint aroma and has the added benefit of repelling insects. They can rub the leaves on their skin so the pests don’t bother them while they are in their garden.
STEVIA-
This plant is novel because of its sweetness. This herb is 20 times sweeter than sugar! Their friends will marvel as they chew on the leaves together.
MINUS THYME-
The tiniest of all plants, yet highly durable. It is a step-on-me plant they can put between their stepping stones.
WALKER’S LOW CATMINT-
This variety isn’t so much for the cat as it is for the butterflies. They will flock to it because of its profuse bluish purple blooms.
NASTURTIUMS-
They produce the most showy of edible flowers. Large yellow and orange blooms taste slightly like radishes.
CHOCOLATE MINT-
The flavor is similar to peppermint patties. What kid doesn’t love chocolate?
Purchase the Child’s Herb Garden Assortment Pack and save $3.00!
The Child’s Garden Assortment Pack contains six plants, one plant each of any of the following: Catmint, Pineapple Sage, Stevia, Purple Sage, Lemon Verbena, Walker’s Low Catmint, Pennyroyal, Minus Thyme, Mints, or Nasturtiums.
